Farm and Horticulture Coordinator

Farm & Horticulture Coordinator

Responsibility:   The Farm & Horticulture Coordinator reports to the Associate Director of Education and Programing at Hale Farm & Village. This position is responsible for the health and safety of all HFV livestock and to ensure that they are effectively viewed and educationally interpreted for all visitors; for the museum’s horticultural operation; to care for the farm buildings, farm machinery, fields, and gardens; to teach 19th century history to diverse audiences using a variety of techniques; to provide exceptional customer service; to supervise, coordinate, and to serve as a resource and role model to interpretive staff, volunteers, and interns.  

Classification:  This position is classified a full time professional and is non-exempt from overtime. compensation.

Coordination:   Coordinates all Farm activities with the Associate Director of Education and Programing and works closely with the Preservation and Maintenance Department.

Duties:
1. Provide the visiting public with informative, accurate, and engaging information about Hale Farm & Village and 19th century agricultural history in the Western Reserve and America through demonstrations of 19th century skills, farm chores, and interpretation of historic gardens, and animal husbandry.
2. Care for the health, safety, and cleanliness of all HFV animals.
3. Recommend and oversee the acquisition and removal of livestock based on health, temperament and program requirements.  
4. Responsible for training all livestock and for the training of all personnel involved in the handling of livestock.
5. Responsible for coordinating with Associate Director of Education and Programing for scheduling, production and delivery of all agricultural programs used in demonstrations throughout HFV. 
6. Maintenance of fences, gates, feed troughs, barns, and outbuildings in coordination with the Maintenance and Preservation Lead.
7. Participate in general and reservation-based programming.
8. Wear period appropriate clothing when necessary.
9. Continually improve the historical authenticity of the museum.  
10. Maintain the physical cleanliness of the agricultural program equipment, grounds, and buildings.
11. Proactive seeks out and secures cash and in-kind support for HFV Farm and Horticulture Initiative.
12. Suggest and implement farm-focused earned revenue activities such as workshops, demonstrations and online videos to increase engagement of audiences with Hale Farm & Village.
13. All other duties as assigned by Hale Farm & Village management.  

Qualifications: 

1-3 years experience in a living history farm operation preferred; a degree in agriculture, animal husbandry, or related field.  The incumbent should possess a strong working knowledge of farm animal husbandry (horses, cows, sheep, goats, swine, chickens and fowl). Ability to operate farm equipment and machinery is required.

The Farm & Horticulture Coordinator should have experience with farming, gardening, and general maintenance.  Experience with school tours, outreach programs, and special events are preferred.  The position requires working weekends and evenings, and a willingness to perform a wide range of responsibilities is expected.

This position must actively support & respect Hale Farm & WRHS’ mission, policies, people and procedures, as well as demonstrate professional behavior, a positive attitude in working with the visiting public, dependability and reliability.  The Farm & Horticulture Coordinator must demonstrate superior responsibility and supervisory skills.

Incumbent will exemplify WRHS’s core values – Integrity, Innovation, Stewardship, Diversity & Inclusion, and Excellence.